very Rev.Father Blais Agwom coordinator DREP 

From Daniel Dauda, Jos


Arise from the recent incessant attacks in some Irigwe communities of Bassa Local Government Area of Plateau State where lives and properties were lost, stakeholders held a consultative meeting to facilitate peace.

A consultative meeting which held on Thursday in Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre(DREP), Jos, drawn participants from the key religious and ethnic/ community leaders.

According to the DREP coordinator very Rev. Father Blais  Agwom " this meeting is what we usually have to do as a religious leaders and traditional rulers of Plateau State every quarter of the year to discuss on issues that bothers on peaceful coexistence in communities.

"So when we meet we give update of events taking place in our communities and then we discuss and see areas we can intervene. Our recommendations mostly center to authority concern to take certain actions in our communities."

You heard them talking about drug abuse, talking about our children going to night clubs even when there's restrictions; talking about criminality, farmer-herders conflict. So these are issues we discuss when we meet and we do it every quarter of the year and this is the beginning. Last year we didn't sit and discuss as a result of coronavirus pandemic.

"We decided to meet today particularly what is happening in Bassa. The crisis between herdsmen and farmer which has taken many lives; as you can see the paramount ruler of Irigwe is here and also the Fulani's.

Participants during a consultative meeting at DREP

"We partner with Government and often time we used agencies like the media where we communicate our messages to the authorities concern. Is not just Government alone we have Police, drugs Law enforcement agency, the STF and so many of them, and sometimes they listen to us and intervene, and sometimes even when they intervene we go back to square one.

"But we must say we appreciate the government because every time we discuss the issue that has to do with peace they always appreciate what we do here at DREP. They are aware of what we do, I remembered the Governor appointed a permanent representative to this meeting that is the Director General Plateau Peace Building Agency Mr. Joseph Lengman",Rev.Father Agwom noted.

Earlier, Galadima Wasa Mustapha Umar who chair the meeting said as members of Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace Centre,DREP, they are committed to peace building and vowed not to allow the vision of Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama who conceptualize the idea of DREP fade away.

He charged participants to speak out and make a huge and genuine contributions with a sincerity of purpose to end the pocket of violent attacks and other social vices ravaging Plateau communities.

However, a minute silent was observed in honor of some members board of trustees DREP who have gone greater beyond they include; Engr. Paul Gonan, Chief Toyin Oshouye and Alhaji Sale Bayeri respectively.